Tha DL

Dustin’s last post generated quite a buzz around thedustin.com with 12 comments. I would have thought this would have caused Dustin to make even more posts… But its almost been a week now and I’m having difficulty living vicareously through Dustin’s online ‘scrib.’ What’s up with that?
- Paris (taken from JohnnyConvo)

In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have a test tomorrow and I could build on my last post’s success and write a running diary as I watch tomorrow’s controversial episode of Dr. Phil. But, alas, this is not a perfect world and I’m not that much of a slacker. So instead, I’ll have to leave you with this little gem about a revelation I had the other day.

So I’m watching TV when an ad for one of those 2-Disc CD collections comes on. This ad is for Tha Down Low, a collection of urban radio hits from the early to late 90′s, back when there was no such thing as urban radio because R&B was Pop (those were the days). My ears were captivated by the smooth sounds and sultry lyrics … “Somebody’s sleeping in my beeeed” (Dru Hill), “Givin him something he can feeeel” (En Vogue), “Don’t leeeeeave me Girrrrl” (Blackstreet). Words can’t describe the euphoric nostalgia I was feeling, and it was all I could do to keep from picking up the phone and dialing the number. I HAD to have this CD.

Then it hit me. I HAVE this CD. Only it cost me 20 times the $27 price tag over the last 10 years to get it.

Seriously. I don’t physically have this 2-CD set, but I could make it. Legally. Never heard of Az Yet? I don’t have the album but I’ve got the CD single. (You’ve probably heard of Peter Cetera, or at least the songs he sang with Chicago. A couple of them were made famous by the first two Karate Kid movies. Yeah, that guy.) Their version of “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” is proof that every great 80′s love song should be remade by R&B harmony groups.

Yeah, you’ve heard of Boyz II Men, En Vogue and probably even Babyface. But you probably thought Rome was just a country in Italy. Well you were wrong. I’ve got his CD single as well.

People think the boy band thing started with New Kids on the Block because white people should get credit for everything. But what about the Jackson 5? What about the more contemporary New Edition? Or how about Hi-Five? So old, I don’t even have the CD. I’ve got the cassette tape.

And for reasons even I can’t explain, Deborah Cox is a part of my collection.

All in all, only 11 of the 30 songs in the collection are missing from my stacks and quite honestly that number is disappointingly high. In fact, I’m positive that number would be lower if I didn’t have to start paying for my own lunches when I got a job in high school.

Over the last few years, my evolved listening taste has been one of the personality changes I’ve pondered most. I still love R&B, soul, and hip-hop music, but most of the music purchases I’ve made have been in the modern-rock, singer-songwriter genre. I’m a sucker for great melodies and “I love you, I miss you, I need you” lyrics. But it seems like today’s R&B is all about bein with as many girls as possible or about dancin at the club all night long with overproduced hooks and beats. I loved R&B when it was sweet, heartfelt and more about the singing and harmonizing then making people “bump”. I liked R&B when it wasn’t cool for a teenage male to sway to sounds of Boyz II Men or Hi Five. I liked it then and I still like it now. But let’s keep that on Tha Down Low.

Appendix A
Tha Down Low tracklist. Songs/artists not in my collection listed in bold.
Disc 1
01 I’m Goin’ Down | Mary J. Blige
02 All My Life | K-Ci & JoJo
03 Soon As I Get Home | Faith Evans
04 When Can I See You Again | Babyface
05 I’ll Make Love To You | Boyz II Men
06 If I Ever Fall In Love | Shai
07 Back At One | Brian McKnight
08 In My Bed | Dru Hill
09 Don’t Leave Me | Blackstreet
10 Anniversary | Tony! Toni! Tone!
11 Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) | Mint Condition
12 Understanding | Xscape
13 I’d Die Without You | P.M. Dawn
14 Someone To Love | Jon B (Featuring Babyface)
15 Tha Crossroads | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Disc 2
01 Unbreak My Heart | Toni Braxton
02 Brown Sugar | D’Angelo
03 Angel Of Mine | Monica
04 Your Body’s Callin’ | R. Kelly
05 At Your Best (You Are Love) | Aaliyah
06 Weak | SWV
07 Sweet Lady | Tyrese
08 Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here | Deborah Cox
09 I’m Ready | Tevin Campbell
10 Stranger In My House | Tamia
11 Stroke You Up | Changing Faces
12 I Like The Way (The Kissing Game) | Hi-Five
13 I Belong To You (Every Time I See Your Face) | Rome
14 Hard To Say I’m Sorry | Az Yet Featuring Peter Cetera
15 Giving Him Something He Can Feel | En Vogue